Birds and a Few Invertebrates from Mission Bay and the San Diego River

A trip to the coast, mostly to photograph birds with the new 400 mm lens, yielded some nice invert images also.

Bat star, W. side of Vacation Isle at low tide

Odd purple sponges, to be determined. W. side of Vacation Isle.

Californiconus californicus. One of many, cruising the shallows at Ventura Cove.

Portunus xantusii, Swimming Crab. This one seemed almost dead, exposed at the low tide. Ventura Cove.

Little Blue Heron, strutting about at the San Diego River mouth.

Snowy Egret, partaking of the tiny minnows, San Diego River mouth.

Whimbrel, fishing with the rest. San Diego River mouth.

Extreme Minus Tide in Mission Bay, San Diego

In mid-December we had some extremely low tides in San Diego. December 13th brought an approximately minus 1.7 foot tide to Mission Bay! I explored the western side of Vacation Isle to see what the low tide might reveal.

Dallocardia quadragenaria, among the eelgrass.

Pteropurpura festiva, on the exposed rocks. Many of them had layed eggs, as shown below.

Crassispira semiinflata, found on the sand past the rocks.

Dialula sandiegensis, found clinging to the rocks after being stranded by the tide. 

I think this is Lepidonotus spiculus, a type of polychaete, but not 100% certain at this point.

Paraxanthias taylori, a Lumpy Crab, a creature I have never encountered before!